Research and technology

Research

All of the research supported through The Fred Hollows Foundation aims to improve our understanding of how to tackle avoidable blindness. We seek high impact information and results to address the most pressing issues that keep people needlessly blind today. The information gained through research is used to inform our work with local governments and partners to develop systems that enable us to end avoidable blindness.

PricewaterhouseCoopers: Investing in Vision

One example is research we commissioned with PricewaterhouseCoopers – it uncovered the compelling link between restoring sight and economic development. It found that for every US$1 invested in ending avoidable blindness, there was a US$4 economic benefit for a country’s economy. By looking at our key goal through an economic lens, it was demonstrated that ending avoidable blindness has benefits reaching far beyond health alone. If more people in a nation can see, more people can go to school, work, raise children or start businesses. Ending avoidable blindness improves the economy, equality, skills, GDP and development of a nation, while reducing the financial and social burden.

Here are some findings from the research:

There are still millions who need our help

An estimated 32.4 million people are blind around the world

A further 191 million are visually impaired

90% of people who are blind live in developing countries

It’s not just people who are suffering

Ending avoidable blindness could inject as much as US$517 billion into struggling economies over a decade

The Visionary Study
In partnership with the world-class research facility, The George Institute for Global Health, we explored the impact of cataract surgery on patients in Vietnam. The results show that 17% fewer patients experience social and economic hardship after cataract surgery.

Better Vision, Healthy Aging project
In 2011, The Foundation recognised the rapid increase of an aging population in the Asia region. We collaborated with the Burnet Institute (Australia’s largest virology and communicable disease research institute) to discover ways to improve the health and vision for elders in the region. The results of this study brought about establishing the 204 Elders Clubs where elderly people can more easily access eye health advice.

Technology

Fred believed the only way to eliminate avoidable blindness was to break down every barrier in his way. One of these barriers was making sure developing countries had access to new technologies. Access was the first step, followed by reducing the cost of getting these tools to the people who needed them most.

We fund our partners to develop technology that is innovative, affordable and, most importantly, helps us reach our goal of ending avoidable blindness sooner. We collaborate with organisations that share our vision, sharing skills and working together to achieve this.

To help someone to see was a tremendous feeling and with medical and technological advances, we have greatly increased the ability of eye doctors to give that help.

- Professor Fred Hollows

Intraocular lenses

In the final years of Fred’s life, he worked tirelessly to open intraocular lens factories in Eritrea and Nepal. These lenses were vital in restoring sight to people undergoing cataract surgery. If made in Australia, they’d cost hundreds of dollars. However, Fred knew if they were made locally, they’d become significantly more affordable. And he was right.

One year after he passed away, two laboratories were opened in his name; one in Asmara and one in Kathmandu. The lenses cost as little as US$5 each and are as vital today as they were in Fred’s time. To date, the laboratories have manufactured over 4 million lenses and are exported to more than 40 countries.

Arclight

The Arclight is an inexpensive, pocket-sized breakthrough; an ophthalmoscope, made for diagnosing eye diseases in the developing world. Invented by William J Williams, with the support of The Foundation, it’s tipped to revolutionise eye care in the same way intraocular lenses did when they were first manufactured 20 years ago.

Lightweight, portable and solar powered, the Arclight costs around US$10, and is affordable for even the most under resourced health clinics in developing countries. By bringing health workers an affordable, mobile and easily accessible device, many more millions of people will now have the chance to get the back of their eyes comprehensively examined. Early and thorough eye examinations are vital for detecting diseases like cataract, trachoma and diabetic retinopathy before they cause blindness.

We see a world in which no person is needlessly blind and Indigenous Australians exercise their right to good health.

In 2013 The Fred Hollows Foundation was recognised by The Global Journal as number 43 in the Top 100 NGOs in the world.